Thanks to a £45,000 grant from Buckinghamshire Freemasons, we’re launching our award-winning Grandmentors programme in Milton Keynes! This life-changing volunteer programme is already running in six areas across the UK, and we’re very excited to be able to reach even more young people from 2019.
The launch event for the project, held at Milton Keynes Civic Chambers, was in partnership with ComputerXplorers Bucks. Attendees got involved in Lego robotics and coding, which helped potential mentors and mentees to meet each other in a relaxed, fun and innovative way.
The grant from Buckinghamshire Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families, and friends, from across England and Wales.
Oonagh Aitken, Chief Executive of Volunteering Matters, said:
“We’re very grateful to Buckinghamshire Freemasons for their generous grant, which will help young people leaving the care system. Our vision is that every care leaver in the country has access to a Grandmentor, should they choose, and we’re deeply thankful to the Freemasons for helping us to work towards that vision.”
Phil Blacklaw from Buckinghamshire Freemasons said:
“I’m very pleased we’re able to help fund the Grandmentors programme. Young people leaving care are already most likely to have been victims of neglect and abuse in childhood and they then find themselves on their own at 18 years of age with little or no help from anyone. Giving them someone to rely on at that crucial stage can be life-changing.”
Volunteering Matters staff and volunteers meeting representatives from the Masonic Charitable Fund – Andrew Hough, Phil Blacklaw (Bucks Assistant Provincial Grand Master) and Mike Clanfield (Bucks Provincial Grand Charity Steward).
Volunteer as a Grandmentor in Milton Keynes